Continuous laundry washer



Feb. 16, 1932.

E. KNUTSEN CONTINUOUS LAUNDRY WASHER- 1929 2 Sheets -Sheet Filed June W Mn Feb. 16, 1932. E, KNUTSEN 1,845,422

CONTINUOUS LAUNDRY WASHER Filed June 3, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Feb. 16, 1932 KNUTSEN, OF BELLINGHAM, WASHINGTON CONTINUOUS LAUNDRY WASHER Application filed June 3,

My invention relates to improvements in continuous laundry washers, and has for an object to provide washing apparatus adapt- 7 ed to receive unwashed apparel at one end and pass the same successively mechanically through a series of wash tubs, each in order containing a washing solution suited for sue cessive washing operations and the last contaming rinsing water, and the delivery of :o the washed apparel at the other end of said washing apparatus.

-Another object of'my improvement 1s to provide a continuous power laundry washer adapted to he attended by operatives stationed at the filling and discharge ends thereof only and continuously mechanical in operation between said stations. Another object of my improvement is to provide a washer using a number of washing baskets to retain separate lots of apparel during the cleaning process and mechanism to convey said baskets in endless procession from a filling station through wash tubs to a discharge station and thence back to said filling station.

Another object of my improvement is to provide mechanism to continuously drive said basketsin washing movements while in said wash tubs.

39 Another object of my improvement is to provide for placing the baskets in the tubs and removing them therefrom during the continuance of said washing operations.

Another object of my improvement is to er" provlde for starting and stopping said processional movement of the baskets without interfering with their washing movements 5 marked articles of apparel in mixed lots and 1929. Serial No. 367,870.

especially adapted for handling unmarked articles in segregated marked washings.

Other objects of my improvement will appear as the description proceeds.

A'complete installation of washing machinery embodying my improvement con.- sists of three separate, adjacent series of wash tubs with separate sets of baskets with conveying mechanism therefor for each. Two of said sets preferably have not less than six. tubs each, one set for white and the other for colored clothes, while the remaining set has 7 about four tubs and is reserved for washing woolens. r

The mechanismwith which I attain these objects is illustrated in the two sheets of ace companying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which Figure l is a front side elevation of one of the saidsimilar sets of my washing mechanism, Fig. 2 is a top plan view of Fig. 1 limited to that part thereof above line aa of said figure, F ig. 3 is a sectional plan viewof Fig. 1 on a horizontal plane through line a@ of Fig. 1, Fig. 4 isan end elevation of Fig. 3, Fig. 5 is'a vertical cross sectional view of one of the baskets,'one end of which is broken away, and an end elevation of a vertical cross section of one of the V shape portions of a lower roll-way bar, and Fig. 6 is a side elevation of a portion of said roll-way bar the remaining portions of which are broken away. i

Theillustrations show but three wash tubs which is a smaller number than usually com-1 pose a complete set. However, since the details of the mechanism pertaining especially to the tubs are duplications with respect to each tub, the purposes of this disclosure would not bepromoted by showing a larger number of tubs in the set while the sim' plicity and clearness of the drawings. are enhanced by their omission. I

The separate washing assemblies for white, colored and woolen clothes are preferably essentially similar in details andthe illus trations provided afiord a clear idea of each of them. Similar characters refer to similar parts throughout. Certain parts are broken away to show other parts hidden thereby.

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bars serve as frame members in addition to being important parts of the operative mechanism. Each of the lower bars 11 has thre V-shape dependent parts 12 of same dimensions and shape and oppositely placed dimensions and shape and oppositely placed crotches of these dependent parts are shown at 13.

Two similar endless chains 14, 14 occupy parallel positions outside of pairs of rollway bars 9, 9 and 11.. 11 and are proximate and of the same configuration therewith. These chains may be of any kind well suited to operate on sprockets but have equally spaced special bearings links 15 distributed throughout. At the front ends of bars 9, 9 these chains are disposed to operate on lead sorocketwhee s 16 one of which is mounted for revolution in a bearing bracket fastened to the front end of each of said bars 9. v 'Below sprockets 16 the chains pass over lead sprocket wheels 17 one of which is mounted for revolution in a bearing bracket fastened to the front end of each of lower bars 11. At the first downward bend in each of said chains, counting from the left, they pass over lead sprocket wheels 18 one of which is mounted for revolution in a bearing bracket fastened to each of bars 11 at this place;

At the second downward fold in each of lower bars 11 is mounted for revolution in bearing brackets fastened to said bar one of driven sprocket wheels-23 over which is engaged one of said chains 14. At the third downward bend in each of bars 11 is mounted. for revolution one of driven sprocket wheels 22 in a bearing bracket fa .d to said bar and over it is engaged one of said chains 14. At the fourth downward bend in said lower bars are similarly mounted driven sprockets 2-1, 21 over which said chains engaged. Between said sprockets l8 and 23 and 22 and 22 and 21 chains 14 are provided with slack to allow them to conform in shape with the lower bars between said sprockets. At the right-hand ends of bars 11 are placed driven sprocket wheels 20, mounted for revolution in bracket bearings fastened. to said bars and over these sprockets saidchains are placed to be driven thereby. At the right hand ends of upper rollway bars 9 are placed sprocket wheels 19, 19 mounted for revolution in bearing brackets fastened to the said ends of the bars and over these are saaeee sprockets are placed chains 14, 14, thus c0mpleting the retaining and driving mechanism of said chains.

In the downward bends between inclined parts 12 of the lower rollway bars 11 bearings 24 are fastened to mount sprockets 21, 22 and 23 and fastened to the bracket of each of these hearings is an arm bearing e24. These bearings are shown best in Fig. 5.

In the three wash tubs are shown baskets 25. 26 and 27 properly mounted in washing relation. Basket 28 is last out of the wash tubs and is in position to have its content of washed clothes removed. Baskets 29, 30 31 and 32 have been emptied of clothing and are on the upper rollway bars on the way back to be again filled. Basket 33 is shown on the left-hand ends of the lower bars in position to receive clothing to be washed.

The baskets are alike and each consists of two circular ends 35, preferably of metal, from which has been cut segments at the top leaving flats thereat; an axle 34 centrally disposed on each of said ends of heads; and a central longitudinal partition 36 from bottom to top. This partition is preferably of metal except the bottom p art which may be of wood as indicated at (r36 in Fig. 5. In each of said baskets on the bottom are two longitudinal battles 37 and a537, preferably of wood, equidistant from partition 36 on each side thereof as shown in Fig. 1 in the illustration of basket 25. The side walls 38 of each basket preferably are made of wire net fastened to the edges of heads on the circular parts only leaving an opening 39 in the top of each basket preferably the whole length thereof. Ordinarily these openings need never be closed.

Each of axles 34 is preferably of reduced diameter a short distance from the basket head and on this is mounted loose sleeve or wheel 40 to roll on rollways 9, 9 and 11, 11. On the end of each axle in front of said wheel is mounted one of chain links 15 which is re tained in operative position by cap screw e34 in a tapped hole in the endof the axle as best shown in 5.

Chain sprockets 21, 21, 22, 22 and 23, 23 are each fastened to a short shaft and mounted in a bearing for revolution, as stated; and this shaft. on the outer end of the bearing, is fastened to a worm wheel 41 so that said worm wheels may drive these sprocket wheels. Each of worm wheels 41. is engaged with a worm 42 fastened to one of horizontal shafts 43. One of shafts 43 is mounted for revolution on each side of the machine in said bearings Q24 and in other bearings fastened to bars 11. On the right-hand end of each of shafts 43 is fastened a bevel gear 44.

Vertical shafts 45. 45 are mounted for revolution i n bearings fastened to the floor and to bars 9. 9 and 11, 11 and on each is fastened a bevel gear 46 engaged with said bevel gear 44, and below said bevel gear 46 on each of shafts 45 is fastened a-bevel gear (Z46;

Transverse horizontal shaft lfis mounted for-revolution at the rear end 'of'the machine shaft a? is fastened bevel gear 49' engaged with bevel gear 50 which is fastened on=shaft 51- on which is mounted'a disc 67 of 'a friction clutch. Said shaft 51 is mounted for revolution in a bearing fastened to the floor. Friction disc 68 isengaged on oneend of shaft (451 of elect-ricmotor52*engageable with said friction disc67. Yoke 69 has a pivotal engagement with an annular groove in the hub of friction disc 68 a-nd'its low-er end is connected to a bracket fastened to the floor by hinge pin 70. Handle 71 is an upward extension of yoke 69 and is used to force and hold disc 68 in frictional engagement with disc 67' andalso to release said discs from engagement.

Worms 53, a3 a5, a5 and engage with worm'wheels54. One pair of worm wheels 5 i arefastened to pair of sprocket wheels 19 through the shafts thereof and the other pair of said worm wheels are fastened to pair of sprockets 20 through the shafts thereof.

The described mechanical parts their dimensions and relations are such that, with motor 52 in operation, and pressure applied to handle 71 to engage the said friction clutch both of chains 14, 14 will move, preferably backward, at the same rate causing all of the baskets to simultaneously move with said chains toward the left over bars 9, 9 and toward the right over bars 11, 11, into and out of the wash tubs, and thus they will continue to move as long as said pressure is applied tothe clutch handle. When said handle pressure ceases said movement of chains and baskets also will cease.

Nash tubs 55, 56 and 57 are shown. The first two are used to contain washing solutions and are preferably of semi-cylindrical shape while the latter is preferably of rectangular form since it is designed to contain rinsing water'and added capacity due to its form is desirable. These tubs are preferably placed with their longitudinal axes co inciding with the axes of bends 13 in bars 11.

Any desired means to conduct the washing solutions and water into the tubs and remove the same therefrom may be used. Since my invention does not especially concern itself with these features of the washing equipment no pipes leading to and from the tubs are shown.

Reciprocating rod 58 is mounted in bearings in the side walls of the tubs near one end of the same. Said rod has three V-shape dependent bends 59 each terminating in a slot 60 equally spaced with bends 13 in one of are fastened to'ea'c h of shafts bars 11V On the front end of each ofthe baskets is a stud 61 external thereto and beneath theaxle' thereof. Slots 60 and bends 59 in rod 5'8'are disposed to receive studs 61 as the baskets pass down into the tubs and wheels 40 bear in bends 13. I

' The right-hand end of rod 58 has a hinge connection with one end of connecting rod 62 the other end of which is connected with crank 63. Crank'63 is fastened to oneend of shaft6 1'which is mounted for revolution in bearings fastened to the floor. On the other end of shaft 6 1 is fastened worm wheel 65 engaged with worm 66 fastened on motor shaft 0551. The connections being such that during the entire period of the operation of motor 52 rod 58 continuously reciprocates be tween its dotted-line positions shown in Fig. 1, causing studs 61 of any baskets engaged in slots 60 to oscillate between the dotted positions of these studs shown in Fig. 1 and thus causing said baskets, such as 25, 26 and 27, to continuously oscillate between their dotted positions at 25 and 25 26 and 26, and 27.

and 27", thus continuously maintaining said baskets in the desired movements of wash ing operations while otherwise at rest in said tubs.

The baskets are, by construction, heavier below their axles than above the same. This is true even when submerged in water to the depth allowed by the tubs; So that studs '61 are normally "below the airles and when the baskets are 'being lowered into the tubs by the chains the studs will be guided into reciprocating slots 60 by converging parts 59 of the reciprocating rod and each of said baskets will be caused to assume the washing movements. as soon as wheels 40 are in place in bends 13 and continue said movements till it is drawn from the tub by further chain movements. I I During the use of this apparatus for washing clothes suitable washing compounds are placed in tubs 55 and 56 and rinsing water in tub 57 filling the same nearly to the tops thereof. Motor 52 is set in motion causing rod 58 to reciprocate continuously. An operative at the left hand end of the machine places soiled clothes in basket 33 on both sides sition at 25", basket 26 to 26, basket27 to 1 27, basket 28 to 28, basket 29 to 29", basket 30 to 30", basket 31 to 31', basket .32to 32", and basket '33 to 33', when no baskets are in the tubs. But the operative continues towmaintain the friction clutch closed and thechain movement continues till baskets 33, and 26 are well started down the inclines toward the tubs when pressure on the friction clutch may be removed and said baskets will continue downward till the wheels thereon have come to rest bearing in bends 13 and all of the other baskets have been advanced to the end of a stage or in each individual case to the place last occupied by the basket next in advance thereof. Basket 27 is now at the place before occupied by basket 28 which has been emptied of the washed apparel therein and advanced to the position formerly held by empty basket 29. ran operative at the rear end of the machine removes the washed apparel from said basket 27, while the attendant at the front end of the machine places unwashed clothing in basket 32, meanwhile baskets 38, 25 and 26 continue to oscillate in the tubs till the end of another stage when the attendant at the rear of the machine engages the clutch and causes the next advance of the baskets and interchange of the positions thereof. Thus the washing operations proceed with a few operatives kept continuously occupied.

Having thus disclosed my invention, what I claim as new therein and desire to secure by Letters Patent is,

' I. In laundry washer, the combination of a series of wash tubs side by side, upwardly open oppositely disposed bearings in each of the wash tubs, a plurality. of foraminous laundry baskets each adapted to be mounted for oscillation in said bearings, conveyor means connected to the baskets and passing through a circuit extending above and into the wash tubs to move each laundry basket in turn into said bearings, means for stopping the conveyor to provide a controllable period of pause for all of the baskets while some of the same are in the wash tubs, a bar having a plurality of engagement means thereon mounted for reciprocation transversely to the wash tubs with one of said engagement means thereon disposed adjacent to each of the laundry baskets when the same are in the bearings, means on each of the laundry baskets to engage said bar-engagement means when the basket is in said bearings and to disengage therefrom when the basket moves out of said tubs, power means to operate the conveyor, and power means to reciprocate the bar. 7

2. A laundry washer including a series of wash tubs side by side, upwardly open oppositely disposed bearings in each of the wash tubs, a framework adjacent the tubs. an upper pair of parallel bars fastened to the framework, a pair of low-er parallel bars consisting of dependent loops entering each of the tubs from above fastened to the framework, a plurality of foraminous laundry baskets each movable on said lower parallel bars for mounting successively in each pair of said bearings and each movable on said upper parallel bars, two endless conveyor chains connected to each of the laundry baskets at spaced intervals engaged with driving and idler sprocket wheels, said driver and idler sprocket wheels mounted for revolution on said framework disposed to retain the conveyor chains adjacent the upper and lower parallel bars, means for causing all of the driver sprocket wheels to revolve in the same direction at the same rate simultaneously, means for stopping the revolution of all of the driver sprocket wheels simultaneously while some of the laundry baskets are mounted in the bearings, a bar having aplurality of engagement means thereon mounted for reciprocation transversely to the wash tubs with one of said engagement means thereon disposed adjacent to each of the laundry baskets when the same are in the bearings, means on each of the laundry baskets to engage said bar-engagement means as the baskets are moving into said bearings and to disengage therefrom as the baskets are moving out of said bearings, and power means to reciprocate-said engagement-means bar.

ELMER KNUTSEN. 

